Top stock picks today: Colgate-Palmolive, SAIL and Laurus Labs get 'Buy' calls from Kunal Bothra

Market expert Kunal Bothra has identified three high‑conviction cracker stocks for the day, highlighting opportunities across multiple sectors. Each pick comes with clearly defined targets and stop‑loss levels to help traders navigate market volatility.

Bothra remains bullish on Colgate-Palmolive India Ltd. with a "Buy" rating, projecting a target price of Rs 2,340 apiece and a stop loss of Rs 2,240 apiece. In terms of stock performance, Colgate-Palmolive has delivered strong outperformance across all major time frames, significantly beating the Nifty 50.

Colgate‑Palmolive’s stock performance shows a mixed trend across time periods. Over the past week, the stock delivered 4.84 per cent returns, modestly outpacing the 0.13 per cent gain in the Nifty Midcap 50.

Its one‑month return stands at 4.88 per cent, ahead of the index’s 3.16 per cent. On a year‑to‑date basis, Colgate‑Palmolive has risen 8.51 per cent, while the Nifty Midcap 50 has declined 2.75 per cent. However, the one‑year picture tells a different story, the stock is down 9.84 per cent, compared with the index’s strong 20.97 per cent rise.

Over longer durations, Colgate‑Palmolive has delivered 55.13 per cent returns in three years and 43.69 per cent over five years, though both figures lag the Nifty Midcap 50’s robust 98.96 per cent three‑year and 148.15 per cent five‑year gains.

Another stock pick from Bothra is Steel Authority of India with a 'Buy' call and a target price of Rs 171 and a stop loss of Rs 161.

SAIL has delivered strong absolute returns across most time frames. The stock gained 5.96 per cent over the past week, outperforming the 1.23 per cent rise in the Nifty Dividends Opportunities 50 index.

Its one‑month return stands at a robust 10.78 per cent, far above the index’s 1.05 per cent. On a year‑to‑date basis, SAIL has returned 11.21 per cent, also well ahead of the index’s 0.19 per cent. The outperformance widens over longer horizons, SAIL has surged 55.50 per cent in one year compared with the index’s 11.92 per cent gain, and delivered 99.02 per cent gain over three years versus index's 62.98 per cent gain.

Even on a five‑year basis, SAIL’s 115.66 per cent gain slightly edges out the Nifty Div Opps 50’s 114.75 per cent gain, underscoring its consistent strength across market cycles.

The third recommendation from Bothra is Laurus Labs with a "Buy" recommendation and a target price of Rs 1,110 with a stop loss of Rs 1,050.

Laurus Labs has shown strong medium‑ to long‑term performance despite some short‑term volatility. The stock gained 5.48 per cent over the past week, outperforming the 2.90 per cent rise in the Nifty Pharma index.

Its one‑month return of 5.98 per cent was slightly below the index’s 6.25 per cent, and year‑to‑date the stock is down 2.99 per cent, compared with a 1.97 per cent gain for the benchmark.

Over longer periods, however, Laurus Labs has delivered exceptional returns, it has surged 95.79 per cent over one year, far outpacing the Nifty Pharma’s 13.98 per cent, and generated a 239.90 per cent gain over three years versus the index’s 92.39 per cent gain. Even over five years, the stock’s 207.63 per cent return more than doubles the index’s 93.49 per cent gain.

(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. ET NOW DIGITAL suggests its readers/audience to consult their financial advisors before making any money related decisions.)